Manolas: Need to take this momentum home with us

Lorenzo Pellegrini added to Manolas’s early header to secure a vital win for Eusebio Di Francesco’s side – both to put them in control in Group G, and to get back to winning ways after a few tough draws in the league.

Now Manolas hopes that, after holding firm during a tough away clash, the win will provide plenty of momentum for the side as they look forward to Sunday’s Serie A meeting with Sampdoria.

“This was a very tough game against a side that knows how to use the ball,” Manolas said. “But when Roma faces a battle we know how to deal with it.”

He added: “This needs to give us momentum in Serie A too. In the league we are not doing as well as we know we can, but I’m convinced that if we take this sort of form back with us we will bounce back.

“I think we have improved from the Napoli game to now. In these three games we’ve tried everything to win. In Naples we had to settle for a draw in the last minute, in Florence we played a great game but were frustrated. Tonight we showed that we can achieve a lot as a team.”